I almost stepped on him, on the busy sidewalk, and who knows how he got there? He might have been stepped on already. Unless it was fate, and I got to him just seconds after he fell, or was attacked or hit, or whatever it was that caused him to be lying in the path of bicyclers, stomping stilettos, and joggers. He had a deep gash from his neck to the start of his wing (which was probably only an inch long), and I immediately cornered him, away from moving feet. I called the Dupont Vet, and the cheery-sounding receptionist told me that I should “put him out of his misery.” Animal Control said they would come, and I knew it was going to awhile, but I wanted to stay with him until they got there, or until he died, so that he wouldn’t be stepped on. In the meantime, some waste-of-a-life baldy with bologna falling out of his mouth yelled “Kill it! It’s gonna die anyway!” to which I replied, “So are you! Why don’t I ___ ___”! Oops.
Animal Control finally arrived, and the bored-looking worker looked surprised when I reminded him to be very careful and gentle with the bird. I watched him walk to his van holding the bird in his clenched palm as if he were holding a fistful of change. I was really scared that he was going to crush him in his hand, just to “put him out of his misery.” I don’t know, maybe that IS the right thing to do in some cases. It breaks my heart to think of an animal suffering, but I don’t think I would ever get over killing an animal, even if it was for their own good. Is that selfish?
Either way, I’m so glad I found him when I did. It may sound corny, but I wanted to validate his death, just by witnessing it, or being there to help him through it. Sure, he may not have had a clue I was there or even cared, but no one can say for sure. If you’ve read Where the Red Fern Grows and you don’t feel the same way, shame shame shame on you.
4 Comments
July 7, 2008 at 12:49 pm
it’s good that you cared. in the long run, i’m sure this will somehow come back to you in a good way. i don’t know about karma, but it seems like this is a case where it might apply…
July 7, 2008 at 2:29 pm
From one animal lover to another, you are my hero. What a wonderful and compassionate act.
Gil
July 8, 2008 at 4:45 am
Sick and injured birds always seem to cross my path. And I do something about it every time. I couldn’t just leave the animal to die or continue suffering on its own. So I always take it to the vet or call the rangers and make sure they’re taken care of, whether they be put to sleep or nursed back to health.
I’m glad there are other people who do the same!
July 9, 2008 at 7:59 pm
it breaks my heart too. thanks for sharing, and there are those of us who feel exactly the same way that you do. i really hate people sometimes.